Ashernoel wrote:For 1 be careful to only list the catalog number
For what it's worth, Messier, NGC, 2MASS, etc are all different types of catalogs, not just NGC. Writing Messier 15, for example, is just writing the designation of that object in the Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters by Messier. Similarly, writing NGC 7078 is just writing the designation of that object in the New General Catalogue. I think it would have been more clear if you had specified that you wanted the designation of M15 in the New General Catalogue, which is NGC 7078.
Ashernoel wrote:For 4, nice wording
I think someone that created a test for a California invitational that you guys one that had identical phrasing
Indeed haha xD
Ashernoel wrote:If it comes up on the nats test, should we cite research papers in our answer? Or say there is controversy? Idk what to do.
I don't know either, but from my (admittedly limited) experience at nationals I feel like they'd try to not have a very controversial question in the first place (or phrase it in a way that there are multiple theories to reduce confusion)
Here's my question:
The figure above plots core temperature vs. density for a sun-like star. The dashed line marks the boundary between nondegeneracy and degeneracy
a. Which letter represents the onset of core helium fusion?
b. Which letter(s) represents a possible location of our Sun on thisplot?
c. Which side of the dashed line (left or right) represents a degenerate core?
d. Which letter best represents SAO244567?
e. During which letter (that is, stage of stellar evolution) does this sun-like star spend the most time?
f. Which letter represents the stage where the star undergoes thermal pulses?
g. The luminosity of this star (increases/decreases) going from A to B
h. The luminosity of this star (increases/decreases) going from D to E
i. Which letter(s) represent the location of the object depicted in the image below?